Highlands young guns join forces to create Hype

Bowral's Matt Kelly is the guy you want selling an idea, and now the unfalteringly enthusiastic 23 year old architecture graduate has set his sights on stopping the exodus of young people from the Southern Highlands.

After spending four years studying at the University of Newcastle, he returned home to Bowral in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, and knew something was missing.

It was the vibrancy of youthful energy and the reliable social circle he'd become accustomed to in the bigger city.

Not only was he seeing the area's young people leave town in search of exciting job and education opportunities, he knew he mustn't be the only guy in his early 20s looking for a good conversation.

"At the beginning of the year I felt socially and professionally isolated," he says.

"I thought surely there are people like me who are seeking social and professional networks."

So he created HYPE - Highlands Young Professionals Exchange - a group that will help mentor school leavers into a career that suits them, as well as provide a vibrant social network for young professionals in the Southern Highlands.

"It's phenomenal, after only two months we already have 20 people from tradespeople to optometrists, designers and real estate agents.

"There's an amazing spectrum of talents and professions from diverse backgrounds.

"You're drawing people out of the cracks and from behind closed doors and now we've got a hub of activity and ideas with interesting young people."

For an area famous for its peaceful charm, crisp winter weather, affluence, coffee shops, large population of retirees and day-trippers, HYPE is a fresh and welcome addition to town.

And when you hear Matt's case for the Southern Highlands as a viable and attractive destination for young people, it adds up.

His home town of Bowral is 50 minutes to the Illawarra coast, 1.5 hours to Sydney's CBD and 2 hours to Canberra.

The rent is affordable and the commute to work is short.

"HYPE is trying to make the Highlands an attractive place to return to, and a great opportunity to base a business in.

"There is a growing sense of change and you see it in the main street - slowly it's taking place and we would like to be active in bringing it about."

They're currently in talks to form a partnership with the Southern Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Industry to help promote businesses run by young people and remove the 'age prejudice' from customers that can hold them back.

He says while young business owners can't compete with established businesses for experience, they have the advantage of being at the forefront of how technology can affect their industry.

As careers evolve with technology, a group of intelligent and successful people happy to pass on advice will be a valuable resource in the Southern Highlands.

"We want to change the stigma of the Highlands being heaven's waiting room to more of a Silicon Valley where it draws young people and great minds to the area for both financial gains and its accessibility to larger centres."